Hey there,
I've got a crop farm story! I know, I usually stick to sheep stories, but this one's worth sharing. We grow hay, corn, wheat, and our biggest crop is Non-GMO White Hilum Soybeans – the ones used for Tofu and Soymilk. We rake in a better price, but it comes with its own set of challenges.
So, these beans aren't genetically modified to handle weed spray, making weed control a real headache. It's not just about a good crop; it affects the bean quality. Picture this: certain weeds going through the combine can turn those beautiful white beans into shades of green or purple – not exactly Tofu-friendly.
And here's the kicker: every load we send to the Grain Elevator gets scrutinized. If those beans aren't spotless, they're downgraded for soybean oils – a costly nightmare we dodge like pros. Fast forward to harvest day. The field looked pristine until, bam, the dreaded weed appeared. I had to play detective in our biggest field, spotting every suspect weed, with neighbors probably thinking, "What's Rod up to now?"
After days of meticulous combining, leaving patches and strips of uncombined beans around the weeds all over the field, we nailed it. Loads passed the quality check, and I was over the moon. But the story doesn't end there. There were still the patches left; the plan was to harvest them and take the last wagon load in for regular grade beans.
I showed up at the elevator and explained the situation. Turns out, being upfront pays off. Al, the guy there, explained that all was not necessarily lost; there were many factors that may not have caused the weeds to do the damage. He wasn't sure at first, but we took a sample, and the beans were golden. Honest to a fault, right? Yes, it was a lot of work, but it felt like the world was giving me a pat on the back for sticking to my guns.
Anyway, thought you'd appreciate the soybean suspense. Catch you later! 🌾🚜